System for inputting, processing and transmitting information and data

ABSTRACT

A system for inputting, receiving and transmitting information and data includes a plurality of portable casings that are each formed with a card slot for selectively receiving memory cards of the dual-chip type. The portable casings are further provided with a keyboard, a display screen, an infrared transmitter and receiver, an optical scanner, and an acoustic assembly composed of a speaker and a microphone. The portable casings are capable of transmitting and receiving information with a computer center, via a specialized terminal, and with other portable casings, either optically by virtue of infrared transmitters and receivers or acoustically over a telephone network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The evolution of society has led to an exponential increase in the inputand transmission of data via all types of communication systems.

Despite the remarkable advances made by technology, paper still playsmuch too important a role, both for the input and for the use of dataThe advances made in computer science have not yet gotten rid of theorder form, the plane ticket, the receipt, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following invention aims to eliminate the disadvantages describedabove. The system represented in the present patent is especially meantfor a specific population, for example, subscribers, who are called uponto communicate on a regular basis with a central structure. The systempresented in the present patent may be used for a wide number ofapplications, such as, hotel, plane or any other type of reservations,mail orders, technical or medical diagnoses, access to friendly servicesof a social nature, to message centers, etc. In order to betterunderstand the invention, we will describe below a non-limitingembodiment of the invention as an example. It is especially adapted tosubscribers of an airline. The following document first describes thespecific application of the invention that enables long distance andautomatic reservations and payments for a flight, as well as theobtaining of boarding cards, via a telephone line and/or a plurality ofterminals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in detail with respect to theaccompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals representsimilar elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are detailed views of a portable casing according to thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a portable casing communicating with aspecialized terminal and via a telephone receiver, repsectively, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates two portable casings of the present inventioncommunicating, by virtue of their respective infrared transmitters andreceivers;

FIG. 4 illustrates two portable casings of the present inventioncommunicating, via a telephone network, by virtue of their respectiveacoustic assemblies;

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the present invention wherein a portablecasing is used to make a long distance payment via a telephone network;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the specialized server/computer center of thepresent invention communicating with a portable casing via a specializedterminal and a telephone network, respectively;

FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of the present invention wherein acentral server analyzes and diverts information to portable casings, viaa telephone network, in accordance with the requested informationtransmitted by a portable casing; and

FIG. 8 depicts another embodiment of the present invention wherein aspecialized terminal authorizes access through a gate based upon thedata transmitted from a portable casing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the device consists of a casing 1 adaptedto receive a memory card 2 in a card slot 10.

The casing 1 is equipped with a keyboard 4, a screen 5, an infrared unit6 with integrated receiver and transmitter components, and of anacoustic assembly composed of a speaker 8 and a microphone 9. The casing1 is also provided with an optical receiver 7 capable of reading opticalsignals (bar codes, etc.). The microphone 9 and the speaker 8 may eitherbe grouped together, or be separate, for example, by a linkage thatwould enable the speaker-microphone pair to be located conveniently,respectively on the microphone and on the speaker of a or a multi-chiptype. For a better understanding, we will now explain the dual-chipconcept.

One of the chips, functioning as permanent memory means, will remainpermanently on the card, and will be able to retain permanent data, suchas user information, type of subscription, address and/or a set of datathat is not expected to change rapidly. The second chip, on the otherhand, functioning as removable memory means, will be of removable andtemporary-type, and as such, will be replaced regularly in order tofollow the changes and the modification of variable parameters, such astime tables, prices and other periodic variations.

The subscriber will receive, for example, a new chip every six months,at the same time as all the other "paper" documents that each subscriberreceives regularly. Once the removable chip 3 is snapped on, theapparatus will be able to communicate all kinds of data, at the requestof the user, relating, for example, to the flights of an airline thatcould interest the subscriber.

The human-casing dialogue will be done by virtue of an alpha-numerickeyboard 4, and a screen 5 that will enable friendly communication. Thecasing-central computer dialogue will take place by virtue of a simpletelephone, in accordance with the following modalities:

In order to make flight reservations, the user will type the destinationin an abbreviated form (three letters, for example) on the keyboard 4,and then the desired time of the flight. The memorized data on theremovable chip 3 will be consulted and brought up on the screen 5according to the choice made, and the user will get all the details ofhis flight: flight number, time, price, etc.

The choice of the flight can also be done by the bar code scanner device7 on any ad-hoc document The user will have to lift the telephone offthe hook and press a key of the keyboard 4, and the apparatus will sendthe DTMF to execute the dialing command, and then, all the data will besent by the speaker 8, placed in application against the microphone ofthe handset 12. The initial dialing will be done manually if the line isnot connected to an electronic computer center. Once the data has beentransmitted, the computer processes the data and either sends theconfirmation, or suggests another flight, if the desired flight is full.To receive information, the microphone 9 must be placed in applicationagainst the speaker of the handset 12, this procedure can be doneaccording to two modalities:

Either the apparatus is pressed on the microphone of the handset 12 forthe transmission of data, and then replaced on the speaker, after theuser has received a signal indicating the end of the transaction by thespeaker of the handset, and/or by a message on the screen 5 or, byvirtue of an acoustic and/or luminous signal of the apparatus, or elsethe transmission of data will be done, not in two consecutive phases,but in a single phase: in order to do this, it will be necessary for thedata to be transmitted from the casing 1 to the computer and from thecomputer to the casing at the same time, by appropriately placing themicrophone/speaker pair of the casing on that of the handset; in thiscase, it would be useful to vary the distance and the inclination of themicrophone/speaker pair. This adjustment can be done by virtue of alinkage, or by any other type of well-known telescopic system.

After the user sees his flight confirmed by the computer, the parametersrelated to this flight will be memorized in the permanent chip of thecard. Actually, for all the procedures that will follow, the casing willserve as a substitute for the traditional ticket, and all the elementsof the chip may be consulted at any time, either by the passenger, or byany other authorized person or organization. From this moment onwards,the casing will enable the passenger to board the flight by virtue of aninfrared interface. As shown in FIG. 8, and in fact, when the user hasto pass through different gates or an access passage 20 in order toembark on the plane, a permanent specialized terminal 11 will emit aninfrared signal, recognized by the portable casing 1 as an invitation totransmit the elements concerning the flight chosen and confirmed by theuser during the acoustic transmission described previously.

The portable casing 1 will, in fact, dialogue with the terminal 11 inorder to verify and validate the passage, if all is considered normal.After the transfer of data with the central computer, the terminal 11will enable the passenger to pass through, in accordance with anyprocedure adopted by the airline: releasing a turnstile, emitting anytype of acquiescence signal, etc. If there is an irregularity, thesystem will display its disagreement and will not allow passage. At alltimes, the casing will serve as the ticket, by displaying, whennecessary, the particulars of the flight. Moreover, the permanent chipwill memorize the flights of each user in order to enable the differentadvantages offered by the company to be applied to each case: a freeticket for X number of flights, according to such or such criteria,flight histories, etc.

Of course, these different elements must respect confidentiality lawsand, to this effect, it would be possible, not to have access to thedata except by virtue of a secret personal code.

According to another version, the apparatus may also serve as a means ofpayment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in order to do this, it will benecessary to replace the chip card 2 in the card slot 10 of the portablecasing 1 with a bank card 15 with chips, or with any other credit card,and in fact, the bank card 15 may have a recess that will enable it toreceive the removable chip. A long distance payment will be done byvirtue of an acoustic interface, similar to that of the data transfer,during the reservation phase described previously, whereby data istransmitted between speaker 8, microphone 9 and handset 12, and via atelephone line 22 to a computer center 18. The same telephone line 22will also enable the memorized data to be reactualized in the removablechip. Another application of the system described in the present patentis the friendly communication between the portable systems describedpreviously and any other device capable of dialoguing with the portablesystems.

Three non-limiting embodiments of the use of the invention will bedescribed hereafter:

1) PORTABLE/SYSTEM

2) PORTABLE/PORTABLE

3) PORTABLE/SYSTEM/PORTABLE OR INDIVIDUAL

The first embodiment mentioned above, is in fact, the case of airlinereservation systems, seen above, but the PORTABLE/SYSTEM application ofthe most general type, will include, among others, mail orders. Theclientele need only slide the optical scanner 7 on the reference(s)desired, lift the telephone off the hook and the transmission of datawill be done automatically towards a specialized server or computercenter 18 (as shown in FIG. 6B), which, on receiving the data, willinterpret it and send the client an acknowledgment, a suggestion, etc.Of course, during the transmission of data, the casing took into accountthe individual parameters of each client, memorized in the chip card.

In a second embodiment, PORTABLE/PORTABLE, the data of a portable casing1 are directly transmitted to another portable casing 1, either byvirtue of their respective optical units 6 (as shown in FIG. 3) oracoustically (as shown in FIG. 4) by a telephone line, and in this case,the user will have to type a text or different data via the keyboard 4,or by any other means available on the portable and then the data willbe received by another waiting portable, at the other end of thetelephone line 22. In this case, the present system has the advantage oftransmitting data rapidly and economically, especially, when thetransmitting and receiving casings are separated geographically.

Finally, in the third embodiment of the system presented in the presentpatent, that is to say, a PORTABLE/SYSTEM/PORTABLE or the owner of aportable casing 1, the concept concerns a message center, especially foran inter-subscriber service via a server center adapted to this effect.Referring to FIG. 7, the subscriber who is qualified by virtue of thedata memorized in the chip card 2 installed in his portable casing 1,can contact another interlocuter whose profile corresponds with aspecific request, via a central server system 30. Example a user,subscribing to a "Cinema lovers" service, and arriving in an unknowntown, who wishes to see the latest film of a particular director, can doso, in the company of a university student, fan of the same director,and wanting to see the same film.

The user will program all the elements relative to his wishes, by thekeyboard 4, and by virtue of a friendly exchange authorized by the chipdedicated to a specific application.

Once the data has been entered, it is sent towards a server center 30that will analyze the request and orient it towards another person, whohas formulated a similar proposal Different interlocuters can come intocontact with each other directly, in such a way, that the callertransmitting a definite proposal, can directly contact a correspondingperson, who has himself, put forward a similar proposal earlier.

The server center 30 appropriately diverts the different parameters ofthe proposal after analyzing them (in our example): choice of film,time, geographical location, transport means, etc. Direct telephonecontact basically respects the confidentiality of the parties concerned,because one party can never be in a position to know any informationregarding the other, because the contact is established in a completelyanonymous fashion. The server center 30 acts as a selective andintelligent call-diverting unit. The first person to call the servercenter 30 leaves the parameters of a specific proposal, as well as histelephone number. The next caller with a compatible proposal sees hiscall directly oriented towards the first person having made a similarrequest. Of course, this message center can have a simplified form, suchas consultation of a database: stock exchange, sports results, weather,etc. The message center can be used either by a specific section of thepopulation, having a memory chip card, or an interchangeable chip,dedicated to a specific use after having paid their dues; or, it canaddress a wider, less specific section of the population, such assubscribers to message centers of the "MINITEL" type.

We will now describe, as a non-limiting example, one special embodimentof the invention, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein;

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a portable casing according to the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a portable casing of the present invention intransmission mode.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, we have a casing (1) that has integrated processingmeans, controlled, for example, by a micro-processor and communicationmeans. A keyboard (4) enables the user to manually enter the data; aninfrared transmitter/receiver (6) enables dialogue with a terminal (11);an acoustic transmitter (8) and receiver (9) enables dialogue, via atelephone network, with any other system provided to this effect(server, databank, computer center, etc.).

An optical scanner (7) capable of reading specific codes such as barcodes and others. Any data inputted by the above-mentioned communicationmeans can be displayed on a screen (5).

The portable casing includes a card slot (10) adapted to receive a card(2) comprising of one or several micro-circuits (3) and/or one orseveral memory supports (3). The most typical configuration being thefollowing:

a permanent micro-circuit containing elements for the identification ofthe user;

an interchangeable micro-circuit containing a memory and enabling aspecific use by the user, for example, a micro-circuit integrating planetime tables, the different shows in a city, etc., or, more broadly, amicro-circuit enabling access to a particular server center.

FIG. 2A depicts shows a portable casing (1) communicating with aspecialized terminal (11) by virtue of their respective opticalinterfaces, and FIG. 2B illustrates a portable casing (1) communicatingvia a telephone receiver (12).

Other variations and modifications can, of course, be brought to thisdescription, but these will neither be outside the scope, nor the spiritof the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A system for inputting, processing and transmittinginformation nd data, said system comprising:a plurality of memory cards,each of said memory cards comprising permanent memory means for storingpermanent data and information, and removable memory means, detachablyattached to said memory card, for storing temporary data andinformation; a plurality of portable casings, each of said casingscomprising a card slot for selectively receiving one of said memoryboards, communication means for selectively transmitting and receivingdata and information optically or acoustically, and a keyboard formanually inputting information; and a plurality of specialized terminalscapable of optically transmitting and receiving data and informationwith said communication means for said casings whereby saidcommunication means communicates the data and information stored in saidmemory cards.
 2. The system according to claim 1, said communicationmeans comprising a transmitter and receiver for acousticallytransmitting and receiving information and data, an optical scanner foroptically reading predetermined codes, and an infrared transmitter andreceiver.
 3. The system according to claim 2 wherein inputting ofinformation is selectively done manually by said keyboard, optically bysaid optical scanner, acoustically by said acoustic receiver via atelephone network, or optically by said infrared receiver receivinginformation from one of said specialized terminals or another one ofsaid casings.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein transmittingof information is selectively done acoustically by said acoustictransmitter via a telephone network, or optically by said infraredtransmitter transmitting information to one of said specializedterminals or another one of said casings.
 5. The system according toclaim 4, wherein the outputted information comprises permanentinformation for identifying the user of said portable casing.
 6. Thesystem according to claim 4, wherein said portable casings transmitrequested information via a telephone network to a central server thatprocesses and reorients the requested information to another portablecasing corresponding to the requested information.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 2, wherein any two portable casings can communicatewith each other by virtue of their respective infeared transmitters andreceivers, when said casings are within a predetermined distance withrespect to one another, and by virtue of their respective acoustictransmitters and receivers via a telephone network.
 8. The systemaccording to claim 2, wherein each of said casings can communicate witha specialized server, via said specialized terminals, by virtue of saidinfeared transmitter and receiver, and by virtue of said acoustictransmitter and receiver via a telephone network.
 9. The systemaccording to claim 2, wherein a bank card or credit card is selectivelyinsertable into said card slot of said portable casing so that paymentscan be made via a telephone network by virtue of said acoustictransmitter and receiver.
 10. The system according to claim 1, whereineach of said portable casings further comprises a screen for displayinginformation and data.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein saidportable casings, after transmitting and inputting appropriateinformation, can selectively act as a substitute for a written document,justifying a transaction or authorizing access, by displaying on saidscreen parameters approving the transaction or justifying the access.12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said portable casingstransmit a set of data to one of said specialized terminals connected toa gate for enabling the unlocking of said gate and authorizing access.